Eleanor is from Homer, IL. She transferred from Parkland College (where she excelled) to the University of Illinois with the goal of becoming a speech pathologist or elementary school teacher. She has been elected to the Alpha Lambda Delta honorary society at the University of Illinois and focuses her extracurricular activities on helping and working with young children.

During her high school years, in addition to graduating magna cum laude and being inducted into the National Honor Society because of her stellar grades, she was involved in volunteer activities such as the yearbook, marching band, and Family, Career, And Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). She is bilingual (American Sign and oral English) and has an older sister who also has a hearing loss.